If you walk into one of our preschool classrooms, you will not see children sitting quietly at desks all day. You are much more likely to see children building giant block towers together, pretending to run a grocery store, painting at the easel, or asking a teacher a million questions about bugs they found outside.
That is exactly what we want.
At The Learning Tree, we use the HighScope Curriculum because it allows children to truly be part of the learning process instead of simply being talked at all day long.
Young children learn best when they can explore, move, create, make choices, and try things on their own. HighScope is built around that idea. The classrooms are structured with intention, but there is also room for children’s personalities, interests, and curiosity to lead the way.
One thing families often hear us talk about is “Plan Do Review.” This is a simple part of the day where children make a plan for what they want to do, carry it out during work time, and then talk about it afterward. It sounds small, but it builds so many important skills.
Children begin learning how to make decisions, communicate ideas, work through challenges, and feel proud of their accomplishments. Over time, you can actually see their confidence grow.
The learning itself also feels very natural for children. A child building with blocks is practicing math, balance, problem solving, and teamwork all at once. A sensory table can turn into conversations about science and language without children even realizing how much they are learning.
Our teachers play a huge role in this process too. They are constantly supporting conversations, asking thoughtful questions, and helping children expand on ideas. The goal is not perfection. The goal is helping children become confident learners who enjoy discovering new things.
That is one of the biggest reasons families connect so strongly with HighScope. Children are not just memorizing information. They are learning how to think, communicate, solve problems, and build independence.
Those skills matter long after preschool.